Improved knefe-shaepeneb



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THOMAS 'K. KNAPP, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, SSGNOR TO JOHN GOULDING, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 67,200, dated July 30, 1867.

lurnovnn KNIFE-sussurra.

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

That I, THOMAS K. KNAPP, of the city and county of Worcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knife-Sharpeners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaecompanying drawings forming a. part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved knife-sharpener, and

Figure 2 represents a cross-section on line A B, looking in the direction of the arrow;

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention belongs to :nahe and use'the same, I will proceed to describe it.

In the drawings, A represents the frame of the device. In this instance it is made ofcast metal, and has a square holev in the centre to receive and hold the sharpening-bar B, as fully indicated in the drawings. The

frame A is forked at both ends alike, the sharpening-bar B extending through between the forks C C at both.

ends, being held in place by the thumb or sct-screwD. A ferrule,E, is cast with the frame A to receive the handle F by which the device is held when in use. The sharpening-bar B is made with a series of cutting-teeth or edges, a, which are cut longitudinally of the bar and parallel to cach other, the teeth a, on the opposite sides of the bar, being cut to slant or incline the same way for the purposes hereafter explained. With a knifesharpener thus made certain import-ant objects and advantages are -obtained not secured by those previously in use. By means of the ferrule E, cast with the frnmeA, the handle has a secure and firm support, while by cutting the teeth a, so as to have them slant or incline the same way on the opposite sides of the bar, in combination with extending the iatter through the frame A, as shown, the device can be used, without turning, to sharpen both sides of the edges of the knife, while it can be used as conveniently by a left-handed person as by the right-handed.

The operation is as follows: vWhen used by a right-handed person the ldevice is held by its handle, F, in the left hand, with the side G towards the person, who takes the knife'in the right hand and draws the edge of the knife from heel to point between the bar B and forks C C, the knife being drawn first on one side of the bar B, then on the other. By this operation the edge of the knife which fits into the angles 1 1 is reduced by the teeth ato a very perfect cutting-edge, the forks C C holding the knife to the bar B in a. vcryaccuratenndrm manner. When used by a left-handed person the device is held by handle F in the right hand, with the side G towards ,the person, which brings the device the other side up, so that the knife is drawn through the angles 2 2 by the left hand, and as the bar B is turned the other end up, the teeth a are inclined or slant from the person, thereby acting upon the edge of the knife the same as when used by aright-handed person Again, when one part of the cutting or sharpening-bar B becomes dull, by loosening screw D it can be moved one way or the other to bring a fresh part of the teeth a into the proper position to a'ct upon the edgepf the knife, and when two sides of the sharpening-bar have been used the bar may be taken out and turned a quarter way round, so as to bring its other two sides into proper positionsto act upon the edge of the knife.

Having described my improved knife-sharpener, what I claim therein as new, and` desire to secure by `Letters Paten'tais- 1. The peculiarly-formed frame, with its four forks C, and a hole through its centre to receive the sharpening-bar B, substantially as shown and set forth.

2. Cutting the teeth a upon the sharpening-bar B, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination with the double-forked frame A of the sharpening-bar B, set on'thumb-screw D, ferrnle E, and handle F, constructed and combined together substantially as and for thc purposes set forth.

THOMAS K. KNAPP.

Witnesses:

Taos. H. Dones, D.v L. MILLFR. 

